Odisha Hanuman Jayanti Violence: Police detain BJP leaders including Union Minister from entering Sambalpur

Sambalpur, April 19: Odisha Police stopped a group of BJP leaders, including Union minister of state Bishweswar Tudu, the party’s state unit president Manmohan Samal, and others from visiting the violence-hit Sambalpur city on Tuesday.

 

While BJP leaders criticized the police action as undemocratic, the police said they had to stop the leaders as political activities are currently not permitted in the city, which is under curfew since Saturday due to the recent violence. Sambalpur SP B Gangadhar said, "Political activities are not allowed in the district. That is why they had to be stopped."

 

The police stopped the BJP leaders along the Jharsuguda-Sambalpur border and took them to Thelkoloi police station around 10 am. They were later let off. Tudu said they were planning to visit an injured person in the hospital and meet family members of a tribal who died in the recent violence.

 

"While the information about our visit was conveyed to the administration on Monday, they took a last-moment decision to stop us on Wednesday. The district collector and SP should be suspended for overstepping their mark," Tudu said.

 

Meanwhile, the VHP has decided to stage a ‘hartal’ on Wednesday in 14 districts against the violence in Sambalpur. The VHP said the violence could have been averted had the government taken prompt action.

 

 

On April 18, the Sambalpur district administration announced some relaxation in curfew hours to allow citizens to carry out essential activities. The public movement has been allowed from morning 7 am to 1 pm and in the afternoon from 3.30 to 6 pm. However, internet services have been restricted for another day citing social media misuse.

 

The police have arrested around 85 people for stone pelting incident, violence, and vandalism.

 

On April 12, a bike rally was organised by ‘Hanuman Jayanti Samanyoy Samiti’ and Bajrang Dal but came under violent stone pelting when it was passing near a masjid in the Dhanupali area, triggering clashes. The violence soon spread, resulting in vandalism, arson and violent clashes.

 

As per the FIR filed by complainant Dhirendra Kumar Swain, the Islamists attacked the members of the rally with iron rods, lathis, and swords, with the intention to kill. During the attack, apart from shouting obscenities, Islamists were shouting ‘kafir log’, ‘sale logo ko kaat denge’, ‘salo ko India wapas nehi jaane denge’, etc.